A Pause To Ponder God's Word
"Good or Bad?"

Dan Millman tells a story about a man who bought a stallion for his ranch. When he brought the horse home his friends said, "that's good." The next day the stallion jumped the fence and ran away and all his friends said, "that's bad." Two weeks later the stallion returned to the ranch with a herd of mares following him. His friends said "that's good." The next day the man's son broke his shoulder when the stallion threw him off. His friends said, "That's bad." The next month war broke out and because the boy was injured he could not go to fight. The friends said, "that's good."

We are much like the man's friends. We attempt to label every occurrence, situation, and event of our lives good or bad. Good or bad not in a moral sense, but according to their impact upon our lives. Such a practice is plagued with problems. Our vantage point is extremely limited. We are unable to see any further than the present moment. These, joined with our limited, imperfect understanding, makes it virtually impossible for us to know whether something will truly have a positive or negative affect.

We see a "thorn in the flesh" as bad. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12 that such a throne served a positive function in his life. This did not stop him from asking God to remove it, but it did enable him to rejoice in affliction. James tells us that we should consider trials of many kinds "pure joy," because they have a maturing, perfecting effect upon the believer (see James 1:2-4). Peter tells us that the fiery furnaces of life do not consume the Christian. Rather they refine and purify one's faith and person (see 1 Peter 1:6-7).

Though Christians quote Romans 8:28 often, we are quick to forget it, or to realize its full implication. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Consider this wonderful "knowledge" that we have in Christ. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that God cannot or will not use creatively and constructively in our lives. There is no crisis, no devastation, no tragedy, no illness - that God does not use to accomplish His good in the lives of His people. That which could destroy becomes a tool for purifying and perfecting in God's hands. This is not an optimistic "silver lining in every cloud" mentality. This is a glorious reality for we who "love God and have been called according to His purpose." It is the confident assurance that He that is in me is "greater than he that is in the world." It is the wonderfully fact, that though God may not be the author of everything thing that happens in my life, is the Master of everything.

Take courage beloved. God is at work, sanctifying and perfecting us for service and His Kingdom. As good or bad as something may seem at the moment, in the Master's hands it is always used to good.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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